RECONDITE
Copy-editors and proofreaders need to develop a wide vocabulary. They should be fascinated by words and language. If you are not hooked on words, the life of a proofreader or [...]
PARAPHERNALIA
There is no particular significance for copy-editing and proofreading about this. But it is a really lovely word with a fascinating history, a history which is interesting socially as well [...]
CHRISTMAS WORDS: NATIVITY
A simple well-known word for Christmas. Nativity means the occasion of someone's birth. When the birth is that of Jesus Christ the word has an initial capital. Otherwise it has [...]
IDIOM
Another short and simple word with an interesting etymology. First, what an idiom is not: it is not a regional accent or dialect, though many think it is. An idiom [...]
GRIEVOUS EDITING
Copy-editor Chokes A copy-editor can’t even eat his lunch in peace! I was sitting in a local cafe an hour or so ago wondering which g word to use today. [...]
FRIABLE
Today's small, simple, but deceptive word is friable. It does not mean a piece of streaky bacon or a sausage, something you put in a pan with a little fat. [...]
WORDS FOR EDITORS: ENORMITY
Enormous Change Editors and proofreaders accept change. In standard English enormity now relates to size, the hugeness of something. We might say that the enormity of her knowledge was legend [...]
A Word for Editors and Proofreaders
Atavistic A difficult or interesting word each day for editors and proofreaders and anyone interested in the English language. We'll start with A and work our way through the alphabet! Today's [...]